Yet another Battery Question

[Danorske]

After setting in my pad at home since the end of March, the chassis batteries drained down to about 8 volts. I have the MH plugged into a 50 supply, I guess I assumed that the inverter would charge both the house batteries and the chassis. I recon I was wrong or should it? The batteries are only 18 months old.

Ron

[HootenHows]

I have the same problem with my 08 Diplomat. The chassis batteries drain after only a few days in storage while plugged to 50 amp shore power. Does anyone have any idea what remains on in this model that would be causing this drain? It requires me to charge the batteries every time before a trip. The dealer says I should start the engine every few days for a few minutes to keep the batteries charged. Makes no sense to me as I can go months without starting my boat and it starts just fine.

[Luv2go]

HootenHows, you're right, it makes no sense to have to start the engine every few days just to keep the chassis batteries charged, it is actually bad for the engine, as many in this forum have stated. I do not know where these dealers are getting their information from.

There are several threads on this forum dealing with solutions to this problem, some people have actually found the parasitic load that discharges the battery, others have put in a chassis battery disconnect, others wire in battery tenders, BIRDs or solar panels to keep their chassis batteries charged.

With our old coach, I wired a battery maintainer (something like this) to the chassis battery, our new coach has a BIRD wired from the factory which keeps the chassis battery charged as long as I have the coach plugged in and the battery disconnects on. I had a dead battery in the old coach once (from leaving the headlights on), and never in the new coach.

These chargers only work when you can leave your coach plugged in, you mention you had it plugged into a 50A supply, so it should not be a problem.

Stewart

[powerboatr]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danorske After setting in my pad at home since the end of March, the chassis batteries drained down to about 8 volts. I have the MH plugged into a 50 supply, I guess I assumed that the inverter would charge both the house batteries and the chassis. I recon I was wrong or should it? The batteries are only 18 months old. Ron

you got a problem
my chassis batteries charge when connected to shore power.
they charge even if the inverter is turned off, not the charging part, just the inverter.
you may want to double check the magnum energy system was selected to CHARGE.
those small buttons are easy to hit.

[jcthorne]

If the unit is plugged in, the batteries should stay charged. My Damon does. Heck my old Bounder did.

[HootenHows]

Great information! Thanks! I am lost when it comes to understanding this stuff. I think I will look into purchasing the BIRD and have an electrical mechanic install it.

[The Woodieboys]

One other thing. Check ther water level in the batteries. Ours had dropped over the winter and I starting have low DC warnings all the time. Filled them up and now everything is working just fine.